Little Known Facts

The Norsemen

The Vikings had ear spoons that were used to clean out ear wax, practiced personal grooming and did bathe once a week.

The Vikings enjoyed sporting events such as wrestling, foot races, swimming and skiing to name but a few.  They also played board games such as tabula (backgammon) to keep themselves occupied during the long winter months.

The ravaging seafarers that attacked the civilized world did not represent the majority of the Scandinavian people, who were peaceful farmers and traders.

The Anglo-Saxons

When the Anglo-Saxons ousted the Britons, they shied away from Roman towns, preferring to live in small villages.

The Anglo-Saxons did not believe in bathing, and monks only bathed five times a year.

The Anglo-Saxons put sheepskins around their beds to get rid of fleas.

History Trivia

 On July 21

356 BC The Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, was destroyed by arson.

230 Pope Pontian succeeded Urban I as the eighteenth pope.

285 Diocletian appointed Maximian as Caesar and co-ruler.

365 A tsunami devastated the city of Alexandria, Egypt. The tsunami was caused by an earthquake estimated to be 8.0 on the Richter Scale. 5,000 people perished in Alexandria, and 45,000 more died outside the city.

1403 Battle of Shrewsbury: King Henry IV of England defeated rebels to the north of the county town of Shropshire, England.

 1545 The first landing of French troops on the coast of the Isle of Wight during the French invasion of the Isle of Wight.

1588 The Armada - an invasion fleet sent by Philip II of Spain - was sighted off the coast of Cornwall.

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History Trivia

On July 20th:

356 BC Alexander the Great was born.

70 First Jewish-Roman War: Siege of Jerusalem - Titus, son of emperor Vespasian, stormed the Fortress of Antonia north of the Temple Mount. The Roman army was drawn into street fights with the Zealots.

911 Norman incursions: Norse nobleman Rollo captured and burnt Chartres.

1304 Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle – King Edward I of England took the stronghold using the WarWolf (siege engine).

1304 Petrarch (Francisco Petracco) the Italian poet, scholar, and humanist was born. 

1398 Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March, heir to the throne of England died.

1553 British Government leader John Dudley was captured in Cambridge and later executed for treason for his part in putting Lady Jane Grey on the throne after the death of King Edward VI.

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Go Indie -- Discover Indie Authors: Summer of Indie Discusses "Mind of a Madman" With ...: Valerie Bowen is Summer of Indie's next guest author. Readers may be familiar with Valerie Bowen as author of the For the Sake of Amelia ...

An interview with author Tracy Kauffman

Welcome to Meet The Author! Today Tracy Kauffman has stopped by to give us a little insight into her life and her books.  So let’s get started.

Please tell us a little about yourself. 
I am a new Christian fiction author from North Alabama.  I enjoy writing books for young adults, children and teens.

When did you start writing? 
I started writing stories when I was in 2nd grade and won the title of Editor in our schools newspaper.  I have loved writing in some form or another from an early age.  I published a poem, called The Cosmetology Student by entering a contest after I had graduated high school.

What projects have been published? 
My Boyfriend the Squire and Gwendolyn’s Wish are currently available for purchase, but started publishing, Southern Adventures, first with Tate Publishing.  It should be released very soon.

Tell us about Gwendolyn’s Wish
Gwendolyn’s Wish is a children fiction fantasy book about a young girl who does not have any friends.  She receives a special parrot that can grant wishes.  He can grant one wish a year and she chooses not to ask for riches or beauty, but for something more special to her.  They become friends forever.

How did you select the title of your novel? 
I selected the title after writing the whole book.  Gwendolyn is the name of the young girl and main character of the story.

What was your inspiration? 
I had a dream and started writing about the dream.  As I wrote the story, floods of ideas came to me.  I tried to incorporate things into the story from the Bible, such as thanking someone that has helped you; not focusing on worldly possessions; and caring for someone else can far exceed your own wishes.

What are you currently working on? 
I have several things I’ve been working on, including a teen book with a weird twist, a historical fiction book, and a sequel to Southern Adventures.

What are you reading at the moment?
I starting reading Legacy by Danielle Steel, but between working on my books, working at a nursing home, and promotion, time is not enough.

What do you like to do in your free time when you're not reading or writing? 
What free time?  I love to attend church on a regular basis.  I love spending quality time with my family by playing cards, going to a movie, bowling, or eating at a restaurant.

Do you have any advice for other authors? 
Don’t give up.  I learned that being an author is not just about writing but so much more.  It is about promoting yourself, watching what you say or do, and trying to write about something that would inspire others.  I do not wish to become famous if it is at a cost. 

To find out more about Tracy and where to purchase her books, go to:
Tracy's website: http://tracykauffman.yolasite.com   
Tracy's blog:  http://tracykauffman.blogspot.com
To order My Boyfriend the Squire: http://sbpra.com/TracyKauffman/
To order Gwendolyn’s Wish: http://www.publishamerica.net/product48538.html

Booksessed: Review: LitU Anthologies Time and Unearthed

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Editing Services - Open House Editing

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History Trivia

July 19,711 Umayyad conquest of Hispania: Battle of Guadalete – Muslim Umayyad Caliphate forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeated the Visigoths led by King Roderic. 1318 Austria recognized the Three Forest Cantons, marking the beginning of modern Switzerland. 1333 Wars of Scottish Independence: Battle of Halidon Hill – The English won a decisive victory over the Scots. 1545 The Tudor warship Mary Rose capsized and sank off Portsmouth with the loss of approximately 500 men. 1553 Lady Jane Grey was replaced by Mary I of England as Queen of England after only nine days of reign. 1588 Anglo-Spanish War: Battle of Gravelines – The Spanish Armada was sighted in the English Channel.

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History Trivia

July 18, 390 BC Roman-Gaulish Wars: Battle of the Allia – a Roman army was defeated by raiding Gauls, leading to the subsequent sacking of Rome. 64 Great fire of Rome: a fire started in the merchant area of Rome near Circus Maximus and much of the city was destroyed while Emperor Nero allegedly fiddled. 1290 King Edward I of England issued the Edict of Expulsion, banishing all Jews (numbering about 16,000) from England. 1334 The bishop of Florence blessed the first foundation stone for the new campanile (bell tower) of the Florence Cathedral, designed by the artist Giotto di Bondone. 1389 Kingdom of France and Kingdom of England agreed to the Truce of Leulinghem, inaugurating a 13 year peace; the longest period of sustained peace during the Hundred Years War. 1536 The Pope's authority was declared void in England.

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History Trivia

July 17, 924 King Edward the Elder of England died. He became king in 899 upon the death of his father, Alfred the Great. His court was at Winchester, previously the capital of Wessex. He captured the eastern Midlands and East Anglia from the Danes in 917 and became ruler of Mercia in 918 upon the death of Æthelflæd, his sister. He was the second king of the Anglo-Saxons as this title was created by his father. 1203 The Fourth Crusade captured Constantinople by assault. The Byzantine emperor Alexius III Angelus fled from his capital into exile. 1453 The French defeated the English at the Battle of Castillon, in the last clash of the Hundred Years War. 1586 A meeting took place at Lüneburg between several some evangelical Princes and Electors, and representatives of the King of Navarre, the King of Denmark and the Queen of England in order to discuss the formation of an evangelical league of defense, called the Confederatio Militiae Evangelicae, against the Catholic League.

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History Trivia

July 16, 276 Mark Annius Florianus, emperor of Rome, was murdered. 1054 Three Roman legates broke relations between Western and Eastern Christian Churches through the act of placing an invalidly-issued Papal Bull of Excommunication on the altar of Hagia Sophia during Saturday afternoon divine liturgy. Historians frequently describe the event as the start of the East-West Schism. 1377 Coronation of Richard II of England. Richard was a son of Edward, the Black Prince and was born during the reign of his grandfather, Edward III. 1429 Joan of Arc led the French army in Battle of Orleans. 1439 Kissing was banned in England to stop germs from spreading.

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History Trivia

July 15, 971 Saint Swithin, the Bishop of Winchester, was reburied inside his cathedral. The day is celebrated in England as Saint Swithin's Day. 1099 Jerusalem was captured by soldiers of the First Crusade, having been held by Islamic rulers since 655. 1149 The reconstructed Church of the Holy Sepulchre was consecrated in Jerusalem. 1207 King John of England expelled Canterbury monks for supporting Archbishop Stephen Langton. 1381 John Ball, a leader in the Peasants' Revolt, was hanged, drawn and quartered in the presence of King Richard II of England. 1799 The Rosetta Stone, the key to the translation of hieroglyphs, was discovered in Egypt by a French soldier.

Author Interview

Check out my latest interview: http://jkmillerii.com/2012/07/14/meet-the-author-mary-ann-bernal/

History Trivia

July 14, 664 Deusdedit of Canterbury, the first native-born holder of the see of Canterbury died. An Anglo-Saxon, he became archbishop in 655 and held the office until his death, probably from the plague. 1223 Louis VIII became King of France upon the death of his father, Philip II of France. 1430 Joan of Arc, taken prisoner by the Burgundians in May, was handed over to Pierre Cauchon, the bishop of Beauvais. 1789 The Bastille, a fortress in Paris used to hold political prisoners, was stormed by a mob, beginning the French Revolution.

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History Trivia

July 13,1099 The Crusaders launched their final assault on Jerusalem. 1174 William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173–1174, was captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Henry II of England. 1568 the Dean of St Paul's Cathedral perfected a way to bottle beer.

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History Trivia

July 12,100 BC Gaius Julius Caesar was born. 526 Saint Felix IV became Roman Catholic pope. 927 England was unified by Athelstan of England after a long process of annexation. 1153 Anasasius IV was crowned Roman Catholic pope. 1191 Third Crusade: Saladin's garrison surrendered, ending the two-year siege of Acre. 1290 Jews were expelled from England by order of King Edward I. 1450 a rebellion against war taxes ended when its leader, Jack Cade, was driven out of London and later killed. 1472 Richard Plantagenet, Duke of Gloucester and later King of England, married Anne Neville, daughter of the Earl of Warwick, in Westminster Abbey. 1543 King Henry VIII of England married his sixth and last wife, Catherine Parr, at Hampton Court Palace.

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History Trivia

July 11, 472 after being besieged in Rome by his own generals, Western Roman Emperor Anthemius was captured in the Old St. Peter's Basilica and put to death. 911 The Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between Charles the Simple of France and Rollo leader of the Vikings was signed. The treaty protected Charles kingdom from further invasion and created the duchy of Normandy; the Vikings became known as Normans. Also Rollo agreed to be baptized and to marry the illegitimate daughter of Charles, thus becoming the king's vassal. 1346 Charles IV of Luxembourg was elected Holy Roman Emperor in Germany. 1533 Pope Clement VII excommunicated England's King Henry VIII.

History Trivia

July 10, 48 BC Battle of Dyrrhachium: Julius Caesar barely avoided a catastrophic defeat to Pompey in Macedonia. 138 Emperor Hadrian died of heart failure at Baiae at age 62; he was buried in Rome in the Tomb of Hadrian beside his late wife, Vibia Sabina. 988 The city of Dublin was founded on the banks of the river Liffey. 1040 Lady Godiva rode naked on horseback to force her husband, the Earl of Mercia, to lower taxes. 1086 Knut IV, the Saint, King of Denmark was murdered. 1099 El Cid, of Castile died. 1212 The most severe of several early fires of London burned most of the city to the ground. 1452 King James III of Scotland was born. 1460 Wars of Roses: Richard of York defeated King Henry VI at Northampton. 1520 King Charles V & King Henry VIII signed treaty of Calais.

The Briton and the Dane: Legacy - giveaway

Please leave a comment on the blog interview to enter the contest:

http://cynthiawoolf.com/blog/an-interview-with-mary-ann-bernal/

Author Interview with the Queen of Afternoon Tea

If you'd like to review in interview in its entirety, go to: http://nancyjillthames.wordpress.com/

History Trivia

July 9, 118 Hadrian, Rome's new emperor, made his entry into the city. 455 Avitus, the Roman military commander in Gaul, became Emperor of the West. 1357 Emperor Charles IV assisted in laying the foundation stone of Charles Bridge in Prague. 1540 King Henry VIII of England annulled his marriage to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. 1553 Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed queen of England in succession to Edward VI, who died three days earlier. Her reign lasted nine days since Mary Tudor (daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon) claimed the right of succession.

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History Trivia

July 8, 49 BC, the city of Paris, France was founded by the Parisii, a Celtic tribe of fisherman. 810 Pepin, son of Charlemagne, King of Italy, died. 975 Edgar, considered the first King of a united England, reigning over Mercia, Northumbria and Wessex, died. 1099 First Crusade: 15,000 starving Christian soldiers marched in a religious procession around Jerusalem as its Muslim defenders watched. The Crusaders were ultimately victorious in taking the city. 1249 Alexander II, King of Scotland died.

M. C. Arvanitis, writer / WORDS TOGETHER MAKE TALES: Fernella's Magic

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History Trivia

July 7, 1124 Tyre (city in Lebanon) surrendered to the Crusaders. 1307 King Edward I of England died at age 68 on his way to subdue the new Scottish king, Robert Bruce. 1456 A retrial verdict acquitted Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death. 1550 Chocolate was introduced. 1575 Raid of the Redeswire, the last major battle between England and Scotland. The Scots proved victorious. The story of the skirmish was turned into a Border ballad. 1607 "God Save the King" was sung for the first time.

The Briton and the Dane Kindle edition is free this weekend

The Briton and the Dane (The Special Edition) Kindle edition is free this weekend http://www.amazon.com/Briton-Dane-Special-Edition-ebook/dp/B005C5T96Y/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1341664595&sr=8-4&keywords=mary+ann+bernal

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History Trivia

July 6, 1189 King Henry II of England died and was succeeded by his son, Richard I, the Lionheart. 1348 Pope Clement VI issued a Papal bull protecting the Jews accused of having caused the Black Death. 1483 Richard III was crowned King of England. 1535 Sir Thomas More was executed for treason against King Henry VIII of England. 1560 The Treaty of Edinburgh was signed by Scotland and England. 1553 Edward VI Tudor, King of England (1547-53), died at age 15.

History Trivia

July 5, 649 Pope Martin I began his papacy. 1295 Scotland and France formed the Auld Alliance against Edward I of England. The terms of the treaty stipulated that if either country was attacked by England, the other country would invade English territory.

History Trivia

July 4, 993 Saint Ulrich of Augsburg (leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Germany) was canonized. He studied at the monastery school of St. Gall and received additional training under Adalbero, Bishop of Augsburg, who made him a chamberlain. He was appointed Bishop of Augsburg by King Henry in 923. 1054 Brightest known super-nova (Crab Nebula) started shining, being visible for 23 days. 1187 The Crusades: Battle of Hattin – Saladin defeated Guy of Lusignan, King of Jerusalem. 1534 Christian III was elected King of Denmark and Norway in the town of Rye.

Gladiator's Pen - Author Interview

Enter a comment on the blog for a chance to win a signed copy of The Briton and the Dane:

Legacy: http://gladiatorspen.blogspot.com/2012/07/chat-with-author-marry-ann-bernal-and.html

History Trivia

July 3, 324 Battle of Adrianople: Roman Emperor Constantine I defeated Licinius, who fled to Byzantium. 987 Hugh Capet was crowned King of France, the first of the Capetian dynasty that would rule France until the French Revolution in 1792. 1187 Saladin, Sultan of Egypt and Syria, destroyed Jerusalem's crusader army at the Horns of Hattin, Palestine. 1528 Capuchin Order received papal approval in a bull by Pope Clement VII.

History Trivia

July 2, 862 St. Swithun, Bishop of Winchester and royal counselor to Kings Egbert and Aethelwulf, died. 963 The imperial army proclaimed Nicephorus Phocas Emperor of the Romans on the plains outside Cappadocian Caesarea. 1489 Thomas Cranmer, leader of the English Reformation and Archbishop of Canterbury during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and, for a short time, Mary I, was born. 1644 Oliver Cromwell achieved his first major victory over Royalist forces at the Battle of Marston Moor.

Author Interview

My author interview with Jacco at Books & Writing has been posted: http://www.books-writing.com/interview-with-author-mary-ann-bernal/

History Trivia

July 1, 69 Vespasian refused to recognize Vitellius as emperor, and had his legions acclaim him as Imperator. 251 Battle of Abrittus: The Goths defeated Emperor Decius and his son Herennius Etruscus on swampy ground in the Dobrudja (Moesia). 1097 First Crusaders defeated Sultan Kilidj Arslan of Nicea at the Battle of Dorylaeum. 1543 England and Scotland signed the Peace of Greenwich. 1690 William III decisively defeated the deposed James II at the Battle of the Boyne, Ireland.

History Trivia

June 30, 296 St Marcellinus began his reign as Catholic Pope. The violent persecution of Roman Emperor Diocletian dominated his papacy. Also the papal archives were seized and destroyed, but the famous Cemetery of Calixtus was saved by the Christians when they blocked its entrance. 350 Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantine dynasty, was defeated and killed in Rome by troops of the usurper Magnentius. 1397 Denmark, Norway & Sweden signed the Union of Kalmar under Queen Margaretha.

History Trivia

June 29, 512 a solar eclipse was recorded by a monastic chronicler in Ireland. 1194 Sverre was crowned King of Norway. 1509 Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII of England died. 1613 The Globe Theatre in London, England burned to the ground. 1644 Charles I of England defeated a Parliamentarian detachment at the Battle of Cropredy Bridge, the last battle won by an English King on English soil.

History Trivia

June 28, 548 Byzantine Empress Theodora, wife of East Roman Emperor Justinian I, and thought to be the most influential and powerful woman in the Roman Empire's history, died. 767 Pope St Paul I died. His reign was dominated by relations with the Frankish and Lombard kings and with the Eastern Roman Emperor. 1098 Fighters of the First Crusade defeated Kerbogha of Mosul. 1245 First Council of Lyons (13th ecumenical council) opened. 1461 Edward IV was crowned King of England. 1491 King Henry VIII of England was born. 1519 Charles V was elected Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

History Trivia

June 27, 363 Roman Emperor Julian died, ending the Pagan Revival. 678 St Agatho began his reign as Catholic Pope. The great event of this pontificate was the Sixth General Council, the Third of Constantinople which extinguished the Monothelite heresy and reunited Constantinople to Rome.

History Trivia

June 26, 221 Roman Emperor Elagabalus adopted his cousin Alexander Severus as his heir and received the title of Caesar. 363 Emperor Julian, the last Roman emperor to oppose Christianity, died in Mesopotamia at age 32, while fighting the Persians. General Jovian was proclaimed Emperor by the troops on the battlefield. 684 Pope St. Benedict consecrated. The consecration of Benedict was delayed nearly a year until Byzantine Emperor Constantine IV could approve his election. 1284 the legendary Pied Piper led 130 children out of Hamelin, Germany. 1409 Western Schism: the Roman Catholic church was led into a double schism as Petros Philargos was crowned Pope Alexander V after the Council of Pisa, joining Pope Gregory XII in Rome and Pope Benedict XII in Avignon. 1483 Richard III was crowned king of England after declaring his nephews Edward and Richard illegitimate.

History Trivia

June 25, 253 Pope Cornelius died at Centumcellae where he was exiled during the Christian persecution under Trebonianus Gallus Augustus. 524 The Franks defeated the Burgundians in the Battle of Vézeronce. 841 In the Battle of Fontenay-en-Puisaye, forces led by Charles the Bald and Louis the German defeated the armies of Lothair I of Italy and Pepin II of Aquitaine. 1134 King Niels of Denmark died. 1178 Five Canterbury monks reported something exploding on the Moon.